About
SimplePound is a blog about personal finance from the perspective of a recent graduate. The recent graduate - you might have guessed - is me. My name is Kirsten, I am 21 years old and about to move to London to start my first job in the City.
I am determined not to waste (most of) the money I’m earning but to learn how to make it work for me instead. This should hopefully enable me to pursue all the luxuries that I want my life to contain without ending up knee-high in debt or having to sacrifice a comfortable nest egg for retirement.
While I certainly approve of frugality and strive to apply this to everyday life, I believe being frugal should have its limits or at least serve a purpose. Having (financial) goals is important to me and certainly helps with the sometimes tedious task of looking after my money.
This blog will help me (and maybe others) track my progress and aggregate the financial knowledge I gain over time. You’re invited to accompany me on this journey and hopefully gain a better understanding of the financial world in the mean time. You could start by reading my best posts, or simply explore the site as you wish!
If you are interested in joining the SimplePound Network and hence tracking your financial progress on my site, please do not hesitate to get in touch!
And a final disclaimer: Please note that my posts do not constitute financial advice and any actions taken as a result are entirely at your own risk.
hey good for you! i'm 21 too and about to
libby | August 11, 2007 | 7:58 amhey good for you! i’m 21 too and about to go into the workforce myself (in Canada)…but wow…i’ve not thought about planning out my finances!! :S
Well, it's never too late to start... :-D
Kirsten | August 11, 2007 | 2:58 pmWell, it’s never too late to start…
Hey, good luck, i am trying something similar now; started working
Cedric | November 24, 2007 | 11:12 amHey,
good luck, i am trying something similar now; started working in London upon graduation two years back and have really enjoyed my time thus far which included a lot of spending, but now i am back to being serious and focusing on longer term goals .
You say Frugality isnt the way to go, but i have found that taking the approach of “needs versus wants” works well, and choosing good habits result in frugal choices but sensible ones.
I had previously rationalized that when i qualified (think it may give away what i am doing) my pay will spike significantly so i can catch up, which i think is a failing a lot of graduates make when they start.
I was always aware of this but decided i wasn’t going to restrict life.
I have signed up for your blog and will be keen to hear more of your thoughts
and again, good luck Kirsten
Thanks very much for your comment Cedric. I wouldn't quite
Kirsten | November 24, 2007 | 8:15 pmThanks very much for your comment Cedric. I wouldn’t quite say “Frugality isn’t the way to go” but I would never be frugal just to watch the stack of money in my bank account grow. I am frugal with most everyday life things to be able to indulge in the odd luxury without having to rely on my credit card. For instance, I’d much rather go somewhere exciting on holiday than go out for dinner every night of the week…
I’m glad to hear you subscribed and I hope I can provide you with some interesting articles to read
Let me know how you are progressing with those long-term goals!
Hello, Look what I found! and a very good idea
Lizzie | August 21, 2008 | 3:43 pmHello,
Look what I found! and a very good idea it seems to be. I’ve been trying the same thing, sans blog, myself. I’m not working on a plan of rapid growth, but rather trying to plan form the start and know my limits/expectations. it’s hard not to spend too much in London, merely because it’s hard to cover the essentials and have anything left tover, really! Which is why it’s maybe best to look for long growth.
However, the whole ‘money’ thing is stil lall very new, so I shall watch this space, and see what happens to you too!
x